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The two years of PUC are cause for intense stress among students as they have to compete against millions of students across the state to get the qualifying marks for admission in their desired college course. Furthermore, they even have to prepare for entrance exams which are also crucial for college admissions. The stresses are not just from studying for PUC, but they emanate from family expectations, competitive spirit and fear for the future. The onus for creating a holistic environment for the student lies on the parents, teachers and the students themselves. Here are some time and stress management techniques for PUC students.
10th grade is another crucial board exam that students come out of and it is natural to want to reward oneself and relax. Before your 10th grade results come, you must create a series of career options for yourself and what stream you must take amongst Science, Commerce and Arts for it. With access to the internet and information on various careers, the skill sets required for them and college programmes lists for those fields, it is easier to narrow down on different options. Choose subject combinations that you find interesting. You have to spend two years with these subjects, so choose subjects that you find interesting and have an aptitude for. If you enjoy it then it will be easier to score in the exams.
At junior college level, students have greater independence in deciding how they want to approach the curriculum and set their study goals. You have the syllabus, textbooks, and access to past question papers, so you can decide the approach you want to take to studies. Setting a daily time table will help you balance preparation for competitive entrance tests, PUC and other activities that you will participate in. Set milestones for -
Do not neglect your mental well-being. With so much studying and stress, it is natural to feel saturated. Practise yoga, go for a run, go out and play some sport, set some time out every day to spend with family and friends, and indulge in a hobby. There are many meditation practices for students that you can consider that will help you concentrate better. Don’t lose focus on your diet. It is a common fad among youngsters to keep packaged foods, drinks or stress-eat processed food. As much as these foods may satiate your craving for salts and sweets, they make you lethargic, and overweight and affect your concentration and performance. While exercise can help you counteract their ill effects in the short term, the damage to your physical and mental health can be lasting.
If you feel overwhelmed for any reason - performance stress, finding that the programme you have chosen is not what you want to study, you are failing a subject, or you have some personal problems, talk to your family and friends. Don’t bottle up your stress, it will only build and affect your focus. It is okay to feel confused and be distracted from your studies. How you recover is more important. Some students are independent and manage to bounce back, others need help. If you get timely intervention then you will be able to make up for the lost time and get back on track.
Consistency in following your timetable, having a planned day and focusing on your goals is very important. If you look at the story of any toppers, for any competitive exams, you will find that they have maintained consistency in following their timetable and adhering to their calendar. Be consistent in your practice because that is how you will be familiarised with the subject and get conceptual clarity. WIth consistency and practice, you will understand your weakness too and know when to ask for help and what type of help you will need.
Board exams test the student’s character and build their personalities. It is not the last big exam of your life, but the habits that you cultivate in PUC and the skills that you develop here, will be useful to you in college and the future.
